Q&A: How to Style Short Haircuts for Curly Hair

If that describes your hair then you know just how challenging curls can be to do so you don’t end up with mushroom hair as the style of the day.

Yet you can avoid looking like the before shot in some bad hair commercial by following a few simple rules.

So go ahead. Try these styling tips for getting curly hair you can live with. These are followed by a not-to-be-missed video showing a few of the ideas in action.

Occasional Shampooing: It may sound kind of gross to those who wash daily but many with curly hair find that shampooing less frequently gives them better hair. And by less frequent I mean only once or twice a week less frequent.

Other curly tops might recommend a sulfate free shampoo too since anything else would be too strong for naturally dry curls leaving you with a frizzy mess. And if you need to freshen up, a decent dry shampoo can get you through the day.

Condition Please: If you have any hopes of shine you might want to condition generously. Because you’ve got to keep those strands moisturized and hydrated to keep your hair looking it’s best and not all frizzy and frazzled.

You also just must find yourself a good leave in conditioner. Okay, an industrial strength leave in conditioner would be more like it. Because again those curls can’t have too much moisture.

You can apply it at night leave it in to work while you sleep. Braids are one way to do that.

Which is also why some use something like Moroccan Oil Hair Treatment.

Typically you’d rub this product between your palms. Then run it through towel dried hair being sure to focus the oil on those parched ends. This can soften and moisturize and help your hair to naturally fall into smooth curls. Even if you take more of a tousled wash-and-wear approach to styling this isn’t a bad idea.

Beyond that something like a curl spray or gel (depending on your curl type) wouldn’t hurt as a finishing touch either.

Diffusing Problems: Blow drying without using your diffuser is pretty much a sure fire way to disturb the curl pattern that your hair falls into naturally as it dries. Part of this is because any direct diffuserless blast dries your hair too unevenly. That can result in curls gone wild.

So I guess you should look at the purpose of your diffuser is disperse the drying heat evenly. This way your hair dries more or less evenly. When that happens you get a more uniform consist curl.

And don’t be afraid to stick the diffuser deep into your mane even down at the root level. Letting the strands rest on it as the video below demonstrates in great detail. Working your way down to the middle of your curly coils and taking care to dry each section thoroughly. This will help seal in the volume.

Most stylist will suggest you then get to the ends last and don’t go for completely dry. Reason being the ends are the most damaged and harried part of your curly locks. Letting them air dry even partially is for the best.

Layering Up: How about some layers? Just don’t let your stylist go too crazy with the layering. Otherwise your mane will explode into mushroom head for sure when the humidity index rises. Especially if you have thicker hair.

Still thick, curly haired generally opt for limited layering; otherwise big hair result when moisture fills the air. Just not big hair in a good ay. While those with fine curly locks might find longer layers would best.

Hands Off: Fussing with your hair after it’s dry may seem necessary but your hair won’t show any appreciation for it. A terry cloth towel may be fine for some but your curly mane won’t like it. Wool hats may be cute but your curls won’t think so. All of which is to say anything that ruffles the cuticle risks riling your hair, creating frizz and leaving you with a look that won’t draw attention for any of the right reasons no matter how good you are at styling it.

Ditch the Brush: You see it in YouTube videos all the time. Girls going at their wet curls with a brush all as part of their styling routine. Yet that’s the last thing you should be doing. You’re just asking for trouble if you even get near your spirals or waves with a brush. Because just like heat will derail your natural curl formation, so will a brush. So ditch the brush. If you need to detangle use a wide tooth comb. Otherwise tousling with your fingers should work fine without aggravating the situation.

Alcohol Anonymous: Alcohol free would be another good thing not to see on the label.

I mean c’mon. Your hair is dry enough to begin with. Too many alcohol laced products will only make a bad problem worse. Pay the most attention to this with your hair spray. They would top the list of alcohol offenders that steal moisture. And you shouldn’t be surprised if mousse comes in a close second. Well anything that offers lift or hold should make your “use with caution” list. Besides going hog wild with some of these leaves you with a less than delightful crunchy or crispy strands.

Yet whatever you do please…

Don’t Switch Teams: Admittedly curly hair takes some extra TLC. And yes it can be frustrating. Still there are some great curly styles for short hair. So rather than fight it, or straighten it, embrace those tendrils whether long or short. They’re beautiful and they’re you!

More On Styling Curl Locks

If you have yet to find a good way to style your curly hair here’s how one girl’s approaches it to get luscious locks. Although really, we both know there’s not a lot of styling you can do with hair that curls. Other than put some gel in it and hope for the best.

Speaking of which, gel works as a defrizzer. And who with curls can’t use that? With the right product, you no longer have to live in fear humidity or rainy weather and what that can do to your porous hair.

Yet it’s a balancing act in that you want one that’s robust enough to control the frizz yet not so heavy as to leave you with hair that is scrunchy or sticky. Some get a bonus benefit of more definition for awesome curls from the right one too.

In this case, as you can see, you apply it by emulsifying it in your hands and then raking it through you hair. Scrunching each section helps shape the curls. Just work your way around your head applying gel generously.

For extra definition you can, as it’s put, coax each curl to life by twirling smaller sections around your finger. For tighter curls finger curl smaller sections of hair. For more relaxed curls use bigger ones.

This is a scrunching intensive workout for your hair.

Following that scrunching session you’ll want to blow dry your hair using a diffuser. Warm heat on the low setting is what you want to get the most out of your curls. Gentle diffused heat will give you the best results. Be sure to cup your hair on the diffuser letting the strands come to rest on the tool. Accomplish this by going underneath and up into the hair.

The idea is to flip your hair upside and drive the diffuser deep into your locks for gradual, even drying. Then flip the hair to each side repeating the process. You’ll repeat this entire process of upside down and side to side with an emphasis of drying the roots to add lift the second go round. How much you have to do this depends on how much hair you have. Obviously shorter hair will dry faster.

Wrap up the process by a cool blast of hair to set the curls.

And if flat hair around your crown is a problem a solution using hair clips is offered for amping up volume there.

Anyway, there you go. You now know more about how to style short curly haircuts and what to do to get the most out of your hair to insure the styling sticks.

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About Tori

Tori is a recovering shoe addict and aspiring beach bum with a devotion to all things chocolate. Her goal is to make TerrificTresses your online destination for all things hair. Whether it’s ideas to keep things stylish and chic or answers to nagging hair care problems, you’ll find it here. You might look at as your irregular dose of hair care inspiration. Oh and you can find me on GooglePlus too.